TY - JOUR TI - Cadmium toxicity in Salvia sclarea L.: An integrative response of element uptake, oxidative stress markers, leaf structure and photosynthesis AU - Dobrikova, A.G. AU - Apostolova, E.L. AU - Hanć, A. AU - Yotsova, E. AU - Borisova, P. AU - Sperdouli, I. AU - Adamakis, I.-D.S. AU - Moustakas, M. JO - Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety PY - 2021 VL - 209 TODO - null SP - null PB - INSTAP Academic Press SN - 0147-6513, 1090-2414 TODO - 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.111851 TODO - anthocyanin; cadmium; chlorophyll; phenol derivative; pigment; cadmium, biomarker; cadmium; chlorophyll; herb; hyperaccumulation; leaf morphology; nutrient uptake; oxidative stress; phenol; photosynthesis; physiological response; phytoremediation; pigment; pollution tolerance; toxicity, Article; biochemical composition; controlled study; defense mechanism; electron transport; enzyme activity; genetic engineering; nonhuman; nonphotochemical quenching; nutrient uptake; oxidative stress; oxygen evolution; photooxidation; photosynthesis; photosystem I; photosystem II; phytoremediation; phytotoxicity; plant leaf; plant response; plant root; plant structures; plant tissue; Salvia; Salvia sclarea; soil pollution; bioremediation; drug effect; metabolism; oxidative stress; photosynthesis; physiology; soil; soil pollutant; toxicity, Salvia sclarea, Biodegradation, Environmental; Cadmium; Chlorophyll; Electron Transport; Oxidative Stress; Photosynthesis; Photosystem I Protein Complex; Photosystem II Protein Complex; Plant Leaves; Salvia; Soil; Soil Pollutants TODO - The herbal plant Salvia sclarea L. (clary sage) is classified to cadmium (Cd) accumulators and considered as a potential plant for phytoremediation of heavy metal polluted soil. However, the effect of Cd only treatment on the function of the photosynthetic apparatus of S. sclarea, as well as the mechanisms involved in Cd tolerance have not yet been studied in detail. This study was conducted to examine the integrative responses of S. sclarea plants exposed to a high Cd supply (100 µM) for 3 and 8 days by investigating element nutrient uptake, oxidative stress markers, pigment composition, photosynthetic performance and leaf structure. Measurements of the functional activities of photosystem I (PSI, by P700 photooxidation), photosystem II (PSII, by chlorophyll fluorescence parameters), the oxygen-evolving complex (oxygen evolution by Joliot- and Clark-type electrodes), as well as the leaf pigment and phenolic contents, were used to evaluate the protective mechanisms of the photosynthetic apparatus under Cd stress. Data suggested that the molecular mechanisms included in the photosynthetic tolerance to Cd toxicity involve strongly increased phenolic and anthocyanin contents, as well as an increased non-photochemical quenching and accelerated cyclic electron transport around PSI up to 61%, which protect the function of the photosynthetic apparatus under stress. Furthermore, the tolerance of S. sclarea to Cd stress is also associated with increased accumulation of Fe in leaves by 25%. All the above, clearly suggest that S. sclarea plants employ several different mechanisms to protect the function of the photosynthetic apparatus against Cd stress, which are discussed here. © 2021 The Authors ER -